Self centering display fixture

Abstract

A display fixture is provided for mounting to shelving in a retail store and presenting products or advertising so as to be more readily visible to the customer walking down the aisle. The display feature includes a mount, a coupler for attachment of the mount to an upright surface such as a support of shelving or other retail displays, a display arm swingably carried by the mount, and a centering device on the extension arm which is positioned for receipt in a depression such as a hole in the mount. In a centered position, the display arm has an extension arm portion which extends perpendicular to the upright surface with the centering device received in the depression, and which swings freely from the centered position with gravity returning the display arm to the centered position without the need for springs or other biasing devices. A product carrier and advertising display may be carried by the extension arm to extend into the aisle, and a screw may be threaded through the mount to hold the mount securely in position.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A display fixture for mounting to a supporting surface comprising: 
       a mount presenting a back having a front side and a rear side, an arm support angularly oriented and extending downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the back, the arm support having an upper hinge hole relatively proximate said backing member and a centering depression relatively remote from said backing member, and a lower hinge flange extending angularly from the front side of said back and having a lower flange hole substantially aligned with said upper hinge hole;  
       a display arm having a pivot arm portion swingably carried by said mount and passing through said upper hinge hole and lower hinge hole, and an extension arm portion angularly oriented relative to said pivot arm portion, and a centering device attached to said extension arm portion, said centering device being positioned on said extension arm portion so as to engage said centering depression in a centered position substantially perpendicular to said back and to permit swinging movement of said display arm from said centered position, wherein said centering device has an arcuate outer surface received in said centering depression; and  
       a coupler attached to said mount proximate the rear side of said back for orienting said pivot arm in an upright axis when said display fixture is mounted to the mounting surface.  
     
     
       2. A display fixture as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said centering device is a sphere. 
     
     
       3. A display fixture for mounting to a supporting surface comprising: 
       a mount presenting a back having a front side and a rear side, an arm support angularly oriented and extending downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the back, the arm support having an upper hinge hole relatively proximate said backing member and a centering depression relatively remote from said backing member, wherein said centering depression is a hole in said arm support, and a lower hinge flange extending angularly from the front side of said back and having a lower flange hole substantially aligned with said upper hinge hole;  
       a display arm having a pivot arm portion swingably carried by said mount and passing through said upper hinge hole and lower hinge hole, and an extension arm portion angularly oriented relative to said pivot arm portion, and a centering device attached to said extension arm portion, said centering device being positioned on said extension arm portion so as to engage said centering depression in a centered position substantially perpendicular to said back and to permit swinging movement of said display arm from said centered position; and  
       a coupler attached to said mount proximate the rear side of said back for orienting said pivot arm in an upright axis when said display fixture is mounted to the mounting surface.  
     
     
       4. A display fixture as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said hole in said arm support has a diameter sufficiently small to present the passage of the centering device therethrough. 
     
     
       5. A display fixture for mounting to a supporting surface comprising: 
       a mount presenting a back having a front side and a rear side, an arm support angularly oriented and extending downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the back, the arm support having an upper hinge hole relatively proximate said backing member and a centering depression relatively remote from said backing member, and a lower hinge flange extending angularly from the front side of said back and having a lower flange hole substantially aligned with said upper hinge hole;  
       a display arm having a pivot arm portion swingably carried by said mount and passing through said upper hinge hole and lower hinge hole, and an extension arm portion angularly oriented relative to said pivot arm portion, and a centering device attached to said extension arm portion, said centering device being positioned on said extension arm portion so as to engage said centering depression in a centered position substantially perpendicular to said back and to permit swinging movement of said display arm from said centered position; and  
       a coupler attached to said mount proximate the rear side of said back for orienting said pivot arm in an upright axis when said display fixture is mounted to the mounting surface, wherein said coupler includes at least one hook.  
     
     
       6. A display fixture for mounting to a supporting surface comprising: 
       a mount presenting a back having a front side and a rear side, an arm support angularly oriented and extending downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the back, the arm support having an upper hinge hole relatively proximate said backing member and a centering depression relatively remote from said backing member, and a lower hinge flange extending angularly from the front side of said back and having a lower flange hole substantially aligned with said upper hinge hole, and a screw threadably received in said back;  
       a display arm having a pivot arm portion swingably carried by said mount and passing through said upper hinge hole and lower hinge hole, and an extension arm portion angularly oriented relative to said pivot arm portion, and a centering device attached to said extension arm portion, said centering device being positioned on said extension arm portion so as to engage said centering depression in a centered position substantially perpendicular to said back and to permit swinging movement of said display arm from said centered position; and  
       a coupler attached to said mount proximate the rear side of said back for orienting said pivot arm in an upright axis when said display fixture is mounted to the mounting surface.  
     
     
       7. A display fixture for mounting to a supporting surface comprising: 
       a mount presenting a back having a front side and a rear side, an arm support angularly oriented and extending downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the back, the arm support having an upper hinge hole relatively proximate said backing member and a centering depression relatively remote from said backing member, and a lower hinge flange extending angularly from the front side of said back and having a lower flange hole substantially aligned with said upper hinge hole;  
       a display arm having a pivot arm portion swingably carried by said mount and passing through said upper hinge hole and lower hinge hole, and an extension arm portion angularly oriented relative to said pivot arm portion, and a centering device attached to said extension arm portion, said centering device being positioned on said extension arm portion so as to engage said centering depression in a centered position substantially perpendicular to said back and to permit swinging movement of said display arm from said centered position;  
       a coupler attached to said mount proximate the rear side of said back for orienting said pivot arm in an upright axis when said display fixture is mounted to the mounting surface; and  
       an advertising display coupled to said extension arm portion, said advertising display including at least one clip and a card held by said clip in substantially coplanar relationship to said extension arm.  
     
     
       8. A display fixture for mounting to a supporting surface comprising: 
       a mount presenting a back having a front side and a rear side, an arm support angularly oriented and extending downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the back, the arm support having an upper hinge hole relatively proximate said backing member and a centering depression relatively remote from said backing member, and a lower hinge flange extending angularly from the front side of said back and having a lower flange hole substantially aligned with said upper hinge hole;  
       a display arm having a pivot arm portion swingably carried by said mount and passing through said upper hinge hole and lower hinge hole, and an extension arm portion angularly oriented relative to said pivot arm portion, and a centering device attached to said extension arm portion, said centering device being positioned on said extension arm portion so as to engage said centering depression in a centered position substantially perpendicular to said back and to permit swinging movement of said display arm from said centered position;  
       a coupler attached to said mount proximate the rear side of said back for orienting said pivot arm in an upright axis when said display fixture is mounted to the mounting surface; and  
       a product carrier supported on said extension arm portion arranged for externally displaying a product coupled to said product carrier.  
     
     
       9. A display fixture as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said product carrier is swingably coupled to said extension arm portion. 
     
     
       10. A display fixture as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said product carrier includes a hanger presenting a loop receiving said extension arm portion therethrough. 
     
     
       11. A display fixture as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said extension arm portion includes a remote end and a stop connected to said extension arm portion at said remote end, and wherein said stop is configured to prevent the passage of the loop therepast. 
     
     
       12. In a retail display including an upright support presenting a front face having a plurality of vertically aligned openings therein, the improvement comprising a display fixture having: 
       a mount presenting a back having a front side and a rear side, an arm support angularly oriented and extending downwardly and forwardly from the front side of the back, the arm support having an upper hinge hole relatively proximate said backing member and a centering depression relatively remote from said backing member, and a lower hinge flange extending angularly from the front side of said back and having a lower flange hole substantially aligned with said upper hinge hole;  
       a display arm having a pivot arm portion swingably carried by said mount and passing through said upper hinge hole and lower hinge hole, and an extension arm portion angularly oriented relative to said pivot arm portion, and a centering device attached to said extension arm portion, said centering device being positioned on said extension arm portion so as to engage said centering depression in a centered position substantially perpendicular to said back and to permit swinging movement of said extension arm portion from said centered position; and  
       a coupler attached to said mount proximate the rear side of said back and inserted through said openings for coupling the mount to said upright support with said pivot arm oriented in an upright axis, whereby the height of said display arm increases during swinging of said extension arm portion from its centered position.  
     
     
       13. A retail display as set forth in  claim 12 , including a screw threadably coupled to said back for engaging the face of the upright support. 
     
     
       14. A retail display as set forth in  claim 12 , including a product carrier swingably carried by the extension arm portion. 
     
     
       15. A retail display as set forth in  claim 12 , including an advertising display coupled to said extension arm portion.